Chinese warships dock in Cambodia for biggest-ever joint military drills

Two Chinese warships docked on Sunday (May 19) at Cambodia's commercial port as the two countries prepare for joint naval exercises.

The training ship Qijiguang and amphibious warfare ship Jinggangshan sailed into the Sihanoukville port as a part of the biggest-ever joint military drills.

There will be 15 days of land and sea exercises that would involve 760 Chinese Army personnel, around 1,300 Cambodians and 11 Cambodian vessels.

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The Qijiguang carried a banner that read "Bring peace and friendship to meet good friends" as it progressed towards the port.

"We are ironclad friends," Chinese ambassador Wang Wentian told reporters on the shore, adding China-Cambodia military cooperation was "conducive to the security of both countries and to the security of the region."

China has been funding the refurbishment of a naval base at Ream, which was originally constructed using the funds contributed by the United States.

Earlier, two Chinese warships docked at Ream in the month of December for the very first time since the efforts began to extend the base.

Washington alleges that Ream port could provide Beijing with a crucial strategic position on the Gulf of Thailand close to the disputed South China Sea.

Cambodian officials, in the year 2023, refuted claims that the 363-metre (1,190-foot) pier at Ream was aimed at docking aircraft carriers.

"Where the Chinese navy goes, we bring friendship, we bring cooperation, no others," Ambassador Wang said in response to questions being asked concerning Beijing's growing influence."

China, at the beginning of the drills on Thursday (May 16) unveiled its hardware including so-called "robodogs" -- remote-controlled four-legged robots with automatic rifles placed on their backs.

The development comes after China's top diplomat Wang Yi visited Cambodia in April to bolster ties between the two countries.

(With inputs from agencies)